DAYTON—City of Dayton Mayor Craig George presided over a lengthy city council meeting last week, which will be his last before he retires on Apr. 30.

“I really want to thank the council. I’ve been to many meetings in the state and the councils are pretty contentious and don’t always get along . . . Everyone in this council has always done what we all think is best for the citizens of Dayton and I appreciate that.”

City council members Mike Paris and Delphine Bailey have both informed the council of their intention to run for the position as Dayton’s Mayor in the November 2019 General Election.

Chamber Update

At last week’s meeting, Chamber Director Melissa Bryan presented the city council with the 2018 Year-end Tourism report addressing; Dayton Days, All Wheels Weekend and Mule Mania.

Dayton Days will be held on Memorial Weekend, and Mule Mania will now be held on June 1-2 to allow for increased participation in Mule Mania, she said.

She talked about the Main Street Open House that took place during last year’s Dayton on Tour.

“Because we did this Main Street Open House, we actually were able to sell two buildings and one business,” Bryan said. “We hope to do that again this year.”

Bryan said the Chamber’s Fall Festival was discontinued in 2018, but the Blue Mountain Station offered to have a Harvest Festival in its place, and that could take place this year.

There was a significant decrease in participation during Christmas Kick-off, due to inclement weather, she said.

The Chamber is relying on radio, television, print, and digital and social media for advertising, and Bryan presented the council with a break-down of the associated costs.

She requested and received permission for road closures for the Dayton Days parade, Christmas Kick- off parade, All Wheels Weekend, and for a new event - The Corvette Caravan.

Bryan said around 100 Corvettes will leave the Tri Cities, on Aug. 22, heading for Lewiston, and she received permission to close Main Street for about two hours so the public can view the cars in front of the courthouse. The added goal is to attract commerce on Main Street, she said.

Fiber Optics

David Klingenstein, owner of Touchet Valley Television, requested approval for installation of 5G fiber optic equipment on the tower of the Dayton City Hall roof.

“It would be better to put it in here, because it would give the city fiber optics. You guys already have a tower that is ready to go, and I wouldn’t have to build a tower,” he explained.

Klingenstein said there will be no cost to the city and the installation could be done as early as Apr. 22. The city council approved his request.

Alumni Parade

Del and Rose Groom came before the city council to request approval of the Dayton Alumni Association Parade, including its route. The parade will take place on Sat. July 20.

All Wheels Weekend

This year is the 25th anniversary of All Wheels Weekend, which will take place on Father’s Day Weekend, said Bette Lou Crothers.

Crothers said there are several new events planned for All Wheels Weekend, such as an antique tractor show, a classic rock band, and solo vocal impersonators, including “Roy Orbison” and “Elvis Presley”.

Tickets are only $10, for the 1974 International truck raffle, Crothers said.

The city council approved All Wheels Weekend and stenciling on city sidewalks, to advertise the event.

Tesla Vehicle Charging Station

The council also approved a request from Bette Lou Crothers and Meagan Bailey to allow a Tesla and universal electric supercharging station to be installed on city property, in the alley behind the Wenaha Gallery.

Crothers said Pacific Power has a special grant to install it, and to pave two parking spaces.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for us, another addition to downtown, and another addition to use of the park,” said Crothers.

If it is approved for funding Planning Director Meagan Bailey will act as the coordinator of this Dayton Development Task Force/Chamber project.

The Chamber will pay for the power used to charge cars.

Citizens Academy Update

Sheriff Joe Helm said the Citizens Academy has been successful and there will be another Citizens Academy in the fall.

He said that, as of last Friday, twenty people have volunteered for Search and Rescue, and in the Sheriff’s Office, and there are another ten to fifteen people coming on board.

Also, headway is being made on the Main Street burglary cases.

Helm said, “It has been because of the deputies working together.”

Public Works

Dave Elkins said the Public Works Department has been busy “cleaning up after the winter.”

Delphine Bailey received permission to have three or four trash receptacles purchased out of the Parks and Recreation budget for use in Pietryzcki Park.

Kathy Berg asked that dog waste receptacles be moved from Caboose Park to the Touchet River Levee Walking Path for dog owners to use.

“If you own an animal be a responsible owner, whether it’s a cat or dog, or whatever,” Mayor George stated.

City Improvements

Mayor George discussed several upcoming street improvement projects.

He said paving will take place on E. Clay St. between S. 7th St. and S. 8th St. in another month, or so.

Double chip sealing will be done on N. Cherry Street, from Commercial Ave. to the dead end, and on S. 5th St., between Day St. and the dead end, later this summer.

Mayor George said the City of Dayton participates in Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program.

He said the city reduced its carbon foot print by 84,607 lbs. of carbon dioxide, supporting 93,600 KW of renewable energy in 2018.

Planning Department

Planning Director Meagan Bailey spoke about some planning updates.

She said Façade Grants have been issued to Inland Cellular, for a sign and for updates at Snowbird Quilting.

Bailey said there have been eleven home sales within Dayton city limits this year.

She is planning to attend an Affordable Housing Conference in Chelan, Wash. in May.

“I’m hoping to get a lot of good information and apply it locally,” she said.

Bailey is watching legislation that would allow the increase of the number of new lots for short plats in counties, from nine to thirty. That would cut down on processing time, on the county side, she said.

She is also watching legislation regarding regulations for tiny homes.

Final revisions for Dayton’s Comprehensive Plan Update should be completed by Apr. 19 and a final draft will be completed by May 3, Bailey said.

She said a wrap-up open house for the Comprehensive Plan Update will take place on Tues., May 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Youth Building.

The Plan will then be submitted to the state Department of Commerce for approval. Additional public hearings will follow, and final adoption will take place in Sept. or Oct.

After that is accomplished Bailey would like to investigate downtown pedestrian improvements and she said would like to see a Parks and Recreation Commission established.

Authorizations

The city council authorized:

Hiring one or two seasonal employees to assist with maintenance in the city park, and in the cemetery.

The use of the Dayton City Park, by the Sheriff’s Office, for National Night Out.

A contract with the City and the Municipal Research and Services Center, to provide for City membership in MRSC Rosters.

A resolution providing for investing city funds in the Local Government Investment Pool. Mayor George said the interest rate is higher in the LGIP than at any bank in the state.

An ordinance amending the 2019 Salary Schedule. This involves amending the salary schedule to provide for a new employee classification. It will affect Administrative Assistant Connie Westergreen, who will become the new Utility Accounting Clerk.